Patek Philippe introduces its new Annual Calendar Chronograph and Ladies Annual Calendar watches
The annual calendar and the chronograph are two functions that are among Patek Philippe's bestselling complication features. The annual calendar just needs to be corrected only once a year, while the chronograph emphasizes the role of the timepiece as a precision measuring instrument. Unveiled at this year's Basel show, the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 5905P in platinum combined these two functions and is soon destined to be a highly collectible watch.
Its 42mm platinum case has its contours are formally balanced and nothing distracts from its coherent design. The round profiles of the bezel and caseband merge seamlessly with the gently curved lugs. The outer contours of the start/stop pusher, the crown, and the reset pusher are perfectly arranged along an arc parallel to the caseband. Every detail is rigorously premeditated to please the eye and assure user convenience. The case is crafted from solid platinum 950 in the manufacture's own ateliers and leaves nothing to be desired in terms of form and finissage. It is a lavishly finished case of flawless beauty, its sapphire-crystal back re- veals a mechanical movement crafted with equally uncompromising attention to detail. And like all of the manufacture's platinum cases, it features a flawless Top Wesselton diamond between the lugs at 6 o'clock.
Amovement with two popular complications
The round display back exposes the large and heavy 21K gold winding rotor which keeps the Annual Calendar Chronograph running continuously if it is regularly worn. It is artistically decorated as are the bridges - in this instance not with classic straight Geneva striping but instead with circular graining as an extension of the round pattern on the rotor. The noble contrast of gold against the silvery rhodiumed surfaces, the shiny chamfers, and the red bearing jewels endow the caliber CH 28520 QA 24H movement with a nimbus that will seduce every watch connoisseur.
It combines the function of a flyback chronograph with that of the Annual Calendar, two highly popular complications. Accordingly, Patek Philippe's An- nual Calendars have been paragons of functionality and dependability for almost 20 years. The patented Patek Philippe Annual Calendar is a full calendar that automatically recognizes 30- and 31-day months. If the watch runs without interruption, only one manual correction is required each year at the transition from February to March. It displays the day of the week, the date, and the month, and it controls the day/night indicator.
The chronograph mechanism of the new Ref. 5905P is just as modern. It remains true to the traditional column wheel for handling the start, stop, and reset commands. However, it controls the clamp of a vertical disk clutch rather than the lever of a horizontal wheel clutch. This solution is characterized by a high degree of reliability. It eliminates the risk of hand bounce or recoil when the chronograph is activated, because it does not rely on meshing wheels. Since the disk clutch works in a practically wear-free manner, the chronograph hand can double as a run- ning seconds hand that does not negatively influence the rate accuracy of the movement. This is why the subsidiary seconds indication, commonplace in most chronographs, was omitted.
The new Ref. 5905 marks a further step forward in the evolution of Patek Philippe's Annual Calendar Chronographs, thanks to creative fine-tuning, it has a clearly distinctive new look. The manifestly elegant model with the blue dial comes with matching navy blue strap. A matt black alligator strap complements the version with the black dial. Both straps are secured with a platinum 950 prong buckle.
Ladies' Annual Calendar Ref. 4948
Patek Philippe also had an introduction of a new Annual Calendar for ladies, Ref. 4948 in white and rose gold. This new model will gradually replace its existing Ref. 4937 model. The new Annual Calendar, even more feminine than before, features a redesigned and refined case whose contours sparkle with the gleam of diamonds. There are two variants - one in mother-of-pearl dial in black for the white gold model and in white for the rose-gold model.
Ladies' Annual Calendar Ref. 4947
This model replaces the existing Ref. 4936 model and it comes with a new, subtly reworked case. Its gently undulated caseband is highlighted with the fire of precious diamonds. The white-gold model has a blue sunburst dial and a blue-gray alligator strap while the rose-gold version features a silvery sunburst dial and a violin strap.